Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Hey guys! My name is Natalie Janfaza. I’m currently the
Marketing Director here at StyleScan, and loving it! Since the age of 12, I’ve
been drawn to the crossroads of where fashion meets business meets
entrepreneurism, and StyleScan became the perfect manifestation of that for me
later in life.

Pursuing my love for culture, language, and adventure
while in college, I studied abroad in Italy for over a year, spending each
semester in a different region of the country. After recently graduating from
Brandeis University with a triple degree in Italian, Anthropology, and
Economics, I flew back to Europe as an intern for the rag & bone 2013
showroom in Paris. Deciding to jump ship from corporate fashion to the startup
life that I long lusted for, I came to New York and fell hard for StyleScan, and
all that it embodies.

As an international fashion and travel blogger, I
continue to expand my horizons and enjoy a very frequent dose of global living
(when the pocketbook makes it possible!). As an LA native who decided to part
ways with the California sunshine and spend her collegiate years in Boston, Milan,
Catania, and Siena, New York has been yet another exciting step for me –
widening my perspective of this world we live in all the more.

Some
fun facts about me:

1.
I was a swimmer and water polo player in high school.

2.
My love for photography is a little OCD!

3.
I am fascinated by extra-terrestrial life and ET is my favorite movie.

4.
Earth tones are my favorite tones!

5.
I love all things architecture and interior design.

6.
I am a hopeless romantic who enjoys long walks on the beach.

7.
I am a visual learner.

8.
I am a health-foods fanatic!

9.I enjoy meeting people from all walks of
life.

10.
I love to create short films and music
videos!

12
questions picked from the staff:

1.
What is your favorite beverage and or cocktail?

Beverage – alkaline water

Cocktail – virgin daiquiri, ha!

2.
What article of clothing do you identify with the most & why?

I really love knee-high boots. I think there’s
something inherently masculine and feminine about them at the same time.

3.
Are you a cat or dog person and why?

Definitely a dog person. There’s a warmth
about them that you just don’t get from cats!

4.
What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Watch stand-up comedy!

5.
What is the hardest thing that you’ve had to do that sets the bar for all other
difficult

tasks?

Getting through AP Bio!

6.
If you had to choose one cuisine for the rest of your life what would it be?

Persian (specifically tadeeg!)

7.
Are you more of a polka-dots or pin-stripes person?

Pin stripes for an elongated look!

8.
If you had a super power, what would it be?

To become invisible.

9.
15 minute conversation with anyone past or present, who would it be?

My mother’s dad who passed away
before I was born.

10.
What's your favorite smell & why?

Cocoa butter – it’s like tasting
chocolate without the calories!

11.
If you could eat only sweet, sour, or salty for the rest of you

life what would it be?

Sour! Although my face might
get interesting after the prolonged scrunchy face!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Happy Monday everyone! Over the weekend, we had our very first photoshoot which features all of our upcoming products set to kick off this Friday, November, 29, 2013. We had so much fun and we're so excited to share a few photos with you. We worked with two fabulous models - Kayla and Karina. They killed it! Check out a few teaser photos below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Both girls ready to go!

It was absolutely freezing in NYC and you would never know it. Karina looks so comfortable!

We got really lucky. We were shooting outside in front of someone's door and it turns out it was a former New York Yankees batting cage! They were kind enough to let us shoot inside for a bit. Sorry, forgot the name of the Yankee.

The photographer at work!

And that's a wrap!

Let us know what you think in the comments. So excited for black Friday!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Confession..Since first thinking of how I wanted to start this blog post I haven't been able to get JayZ's voice out of my head. Too bad Noelle doesn't flow as nicely as HOV.

I'm the Stylist here at StyleScan & I'm excited to share all of my favorite tips & trends with you on this blog. I constantly have my eye out for the next trend, a fresh way to style my favorite dress or a fun color combination. Street wear is where it's at! This is something I learned while working at Stylesight- one of the best trend sources out there.Many of us don't always have the funds to buy a new outfit every time we have a date or an exciting event, so we have to get creative. Between you all posting your daily looks to the StyleScan app & our new site(launching soon!) inspiration, we are going to have a great thing going here.

Fun facts about me:

- I'm obsessed with Trader Joe's.

- I was a cheerleader in high school.

- I'm on a constant quest for BYOB restaurants.

- A guilty pleasure of mine is psychology podcasts.

- My culinary specialty is fixing a good cheese plate.

- I shaved one side of my head for a fun summer 'do.

- I decided to go to college in North Carolina (8 hours from home!) without having visited the campus.

- I don't do karaoke but if I was forced to for some reason I'd sing, "Find a Way" by A Tribe Called Quest because I know all the words.

StyleScan Staff Survey

What is your favorite beverage and or cocktail?

Beverage-Arnold Palmer

Cocktail-Sidecar. Made best with a sugar rim!

What article of clothing do you identify with the most & why?

A vintage dress.

I wear a dress mostly everyday but there's something about a vintage dress that makes me feel extra fancy. I like to think about who may have worn it before and what their story was.

Are you a cat or dog person and why?

Definitely a dog person.

Plus, I'm highly allergic to cats so I try to keep my distance.

What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Walk around the city. I love wandering around and exploring new shops & eats.

What is the hardest thing that you have had to do that's sets

the bar for all other difficult tasks?

Leaving my full time job with nothing lined up. Mostly everyone around me thought I was nuts but I knew something better was out there for me. Now 2 months later I couldn't be happier. This experience taught me to take in others opinions but you need to go with your gut feeling.

If you had to choose one cuisine for the rest of your life what would it be?

Mediterranean

Are you more of a polka-dots or pin-stripes person?

I like to wear both at the same time. I love a good geo!

If you had a super power, what would it be?

Time travel

15 minute conversation with anyone past or present, who would it be?

Past- Jean Seberg Present- Tim Walker

What's your favorite smell & why?

Sawdust.

It always makes me happy. It brings me back to my childhood working in my dad's wood shop.

If you could eat only sweet, sour, or salty for the rest of your life what would it be?

Can I cheat? Salty sweet combo hands down

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Since moving to NY this list grew with people's subway etiquette.

I don't understand why people stand right in the middle of the doorway?! If everyone stood to the side, people could exit quicker which then would allow others to enter quickly.

Why don't people understand that?

Have any styling questions? Ideas for future posts? Is there a trend that scares you? Comment below. I'd love your input along the way.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

My name is Karl and I am a co-founder here at StyleScan. I love to travel, eat, drink, and be merry. I am calculated, thoughtful, direct, uncompromising, and a sweet love-able guy. If those qualities don't irritate you, we could be friends.

My parents are from Haiti and I am grateful for the values they have instilled in me. My blog posts will be about the continuous evolution of StyleScan, focusing primarily on the business side of running the next major player in the fashion tech world. (Remember I said that)

As of today 11/20/2013 we have 11517 users that have joined our style driven community and growing daily. Just a month ago we had a little over 3000 users and are now adding more than 1500 new members a week. If our current trend of user acquisition continues at this rate of growth, I believe that the StyleScan team can grow our user base to 700,000 users by August 2014

In a little over one weeks time, we are launching our online store www.stylescan.co. The site focuses on current fashion trends while offering multiple styling suggestions for items being sold. What makes our online store really cool is that each item sold by StyleScan will have a scan-able tag. Stylescan app users, who have purchased our products, will be able to discover new styling options as well as share their own style as it relates to purchased items!

Fun Facts

-I photographed all the products on www.StyleScan.co and will continue to do so until we can afford to hire a photographer -I hated formal education while in school and still do -I watch so little TV that my only television is a 13 - inch tube with an onboard VHS tape deck. Actually, it isn't mine it's borrowed. -Don't ask me if I have seen ____________ chances are I haven't -I plan on getting my private pilots license and first plane in the next 24 months -I suck at just about every sport and don't care -I'm my best company -Workaholic -Scorpio -I have the attention span of a fruit fly -I want to build buildings

On to the 12 Questions!

What is your favorite beverage and or cocktail?Beverage-Limeade
Cocktail-Rob Roy

What article of clothing do you identify with the most & why?Boxer briefs. I like how my butt looks in them.

Are you a cat or dog person and why?DOG! Dogs are loyal and seem to adopt their owners characteristics. They seem to understand you and adjust accordingly. Cats are cold self absorbed rotten little things!

What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?Cook

What is the hardest thing that you have had to do that's sets
the bar for all other difficult tasks? The hardest thing I have had to do is wake my mother up to relay the message that they(the detectives that were knocking on the door) found my brother, who had been missing for 6 weeks, dead. That experience has shaped the way I approach everything I do. Whenever things get difficult, I compare that day to my current situation, and it reassures me that I can make it through anything.

If you had to choose one cuisine for the rest of your life
what would it be? Haitian food. Specially oxtail with rice and beans sweet plantains and picklez with a glass of limeade infused with mint.

Are you more of a polka-dots or pin-stripes person?Pinstripes. Never liked polka dots, never will.

If you had a super power, what would it be? The power of a genie, the ability to grant wishes.

15 minute conversation with anyone past or present , who would it be? Present-Kris Jenner Past-Cleopatra

What's your favorite smell & why? Smell of the ocean. It reminds me of fishing trips I took with my dad during my childhood. We never caught anything but he allowed me the opportunities to try time and time again.

If you could eat only sweet, sour, or salty for the rest
of you life what would it be? Sweet. Chocolate hazelnut mousse...drooling now

What is your biggest pet peeve? People who try to pass their opinions and random thoughts off as factual information. You just can't do that!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Hi everyone! Hope you’re all having a fantastic Monday! We have exciting things happening here and wanted to give you an updated introduction along with a behind the scenes look at StyleScan! My name is Sotiria and I’m one of the founders. I didn’t always want to start my own company. Growing up I wanted to become an architect. The idea of designing a structure that was just a dream the day before was extraordinary to me. As you can tell now, I’m no architect. I was never good at art or drawing, so I gave it up. Coming from immigrant parents, you’re taught to go to school and study to make a better life, so that’s what I did. I studied Health Science in college and began working. Needless to say I hated it. I’ve been working since the ripe old age of 15 and it was once I started my career that I knew I would only be happy if I started my own company. I dove into entrepreneurship head first and haven’t looked back. Any book, magazine, article I could read about it, I did. I was out of school and the only person that could teach me about this lifestyle was myself. Every day I researched as much as I could about other successful entrepreneurs and even met with a few. It’s one of the most exciting times but it’s also one of the hardest times. I’ve started several businesses, some succeeded, some failed, and some pivoted. Through all of these endeavors, I learned a lot about myself and about life. And every path I’ve gone down has led me to StyleScan!

Some fun facts about me:

1. I began dancing at 5 years old and competed while dancing in college. 2. My parents and family are from Greece. 3. My concentration in Health Science was Nuclear Medicine. 4. My favorite TV Show is LOST. 5. I get into TV shows after they have gone off the air and then marathon watch them.6. I rarely watch comedies and prefer dramas. 7. I’ve always been a book reader. Since I was in the 5th grade, I’ve been reading books that were at least 400 pages each. 8. I will eat anything chocolate. 9. I loathe coffee. (I know, shocking) 10. I loathe soda.

12 questions picked from the staff:

1. What is your favorite beverage and or cocktail? Beverage – water Cocktail – vanilla vodka and ginger ale.2. What article of clothing do you identify with the most & why? It seems that since I was young I always gravitate towards wife beaters. I have tons of them and they are my go to piece because I like being comfortable and they go with everything. James Perse wife beaters are my fav! 3. Are you a cat or dog person and why? Dog person. They are loyal and your best friend. 4. What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time? Take a dance class. 5. What is the hardest thing that you’ve had to do that's sets the bar for all other difficult tasks?
Starting my own business and being self employed – hands downs. 6. If you had to choose one cuisine for the rest of your life what would it be? Thai 7. Are you more of a polka-dots or pin-stripes person? Pin stripes. They make you look taller. 8. If you had a super power, what would it be?The ability to travel back in time.9. 15 minute conversation with anyone past or present, who would it be? Myself - in the past. 10. What's your favorite smell & why? Butter. You know when you walk into a room and it smells like desserts because they are using butter - well that's my favorite smell.

11. If you could eat only sweet, sour, or salty for the rest of you life what would it be?Twix.

12. What is your biggest pet peeve? When people place a hanger around their neck while shopping to see if the item fits them.It's ridiculous, use a fitting room.